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Football League Wrap: Derby move up to third
Derby County moved up to third in the Championship with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.
Patrick Bamford struck 12 minutes from time at Hillsborough on Tuesday to lift Steve McClaren's side above QPR in the table and just two points behind second-placed Burnley.
The result leaves Wednesday - who have now lost two league games on the bounce after a eight-game unbeaten run - in 17th.
Wigan Athletic continued their play-off push with a comfortable 2-0 home win over relegation-threatened Barnsley, with first-half goals from on-loan duo Nicky Maynard and Martyn Waghorn doing the damage.
Tuesday's other game in the Championship saw bottom-placed Yeovil Town hold Watford to a 0-0 draw at Huish Park.
Meanwhile, in League One, Leyton Orient got their promotion challenge back on track with a 2-0 victory over basement club Stevenage at Brisbane Road - that win lifting them above Wolves into second place.
Bradford City ended a 13-game winless streak by beating Port Vale 1-0, and Carlisle United picked up a 2-1 away win at Coventry City.
Meanwhile, MK Dons played out a 0-0 stalemate with Preston North End and Crawley Town's home fixture with Tranmere Rovers was postponed.
In League Two, Oxford United missed the chance to go second by losing 3-2 at play-off contenders Newport County, while Accrington Stanley drew 0-0 at home with Bury.
All three of Tuesday's other fixtures in the fourth tier - Rochdale against Burton Albion, Southend United versus Hartlepool United and Exeter City's home game with Morecambe - finished 1-1.
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In his robust Inside The NFL Notebook below, NFL Network's Albert Breer touches on multiple topics, including (click on each link to take you directly to the topic):
» Four things he's looking forward to in Week 7.
» One team about to roll off an eight-game winning streak.
» Why Jason Garrett's job as Dallas coach isn't in jeopardy.
» And much more, beginning with the NFL's newest owner and his game plan to rebuild the Browns ...
Freshly minted Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam spoke with strength and conviction after his new peers accepted him into their exclusive club Tuesday, sounding every bit like the football-driven boss that his recently acquired, dilapidated, once-proud franchise needs.
But just a couple hours later, as he headed back to Northeast Ohio from the league's Fall Meeting in Chicago, Haslam pointed forward. And admitted that, in fact, he doesn't have all the answers. So his job now is to try and find them.
"It's a little awkward where we came in, getting announced as new owner at the start of camp, getting voted in right in the middle of the season," Haslam said, his enthusiasm jumping through the cell phone. "But for now, it's going to be no different than what we've done. We announced the transition with Mike (Holmgren) and Joe (Banner). And I'm going to listen, learn and ask questions."
As has been expected for a while, Holmgren is on his way out as team president, Banner is coming in as a chief executive, and more changes surely are on the way.
That shouldn't come as any surprise. It's not like the Browns don't have elements that need fixing. This incarnation of the club has made the playoffs once since it entered the NFL in 1999, while suffering through a jarring 10 seasons of double-digit losses.
As the saying goes, Haslam is just trying to know what he doesn't know. But it's also not as if the new owner doesn't have a rough idea for how he wants to do business. That's because he's been preparing for this for quite some time.
"Probably like a lot of other individuals, I loved football starting at an early age," Haslam said. "The last five or six years, we got more serious. We had the chance to observe it first-hand as a limited partner with the (Pittsburgh) Steelers, and then we let the Steelers know we'd be interested if the chance to buy a team was out there. I can't think of a better opportunity than the one that came up."
Sessler: Dear Jimmy...
Marc Sessler says the Browns need a total reboot, and has a few fresh ideas for new owner Jimmy Haslam. **More ...**
Haslam acknowledged that, indeed, his model for building the Browns, at least initially, will be based largely on what he learned over the past three years working with the Rooney family while holding a 12.5 percent stake in Cleveland's AFC North rival.
From a common-sense standpoint, that means current coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert face an uphill battle when it comes to keeping their jobs.
Here's why: Haslam, like Dan and Art Rooney, believes in long-term stability and continuity. As he evaluates the club, anyone he chooses to keep will be kept with more than the immediate future in mind. So guys like Shurmur and Heckert, aside from just winning, will have to show the new boss how they fit into the franchise's vision for the next decade.
Haslam is quick to note, too, that he isn't just cribbing from Pittsburgh on that. His chief officers in his lucrative truck-stop business have been with the company for 27, 24 and 16 years.
"That's the way our company has always looked at it," he said. "You get the right people in place and let them do their jobs."
"It was great training being there," Haslam said. "They do it with character and intelligence. They run that organization the right way. They build through the draft. They're patient. It's just the right way to do it. It was a tremendous opportunity to be with them."
Now he'll go against them, twice a year, in a historically heated but, more recently, one-sided rivalry.
Haslam's already gotten a taste of what it'll be like. He's counseled with Banner, who was in the Philadelphia Eagles' pressure-cooker environment for nearly two decades, off and on since July, and he's been around Cleveland enough over the past few months to notice how important football is to the region.
Last Sunday, as he headed back home to Tennessee, he got a call from Banner following the Browns' victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
"We were all excited to get the win, but he was blown away seeing the fans' reaction," Haslam recalled. "He said, 'Imagine what it'll be like if we can turn it around.' And I promise you, I'm gonna work as hard as I can to make that happen."
In one sense, for Haslam, this is the finish line. Where some others who buy into football teams are simply investing, his family always saw its time with Pittsburgh as an apprenticeship, which makes this next step the culmination of a long-held plan.
But in another, more important sense, as Haslam sees it, this is just the beginning for the new owner. He admits he has more questions than answers at this point.
Still, for Clevelanders, he seems to be a breath of fresh air. Randy Lerner had become a largely absentee owner, despite his local ties. Where that was a case of someone breaking away, Haslam -- who is planning to split his time between Knoxville and Cleveland -- is arriving and trying to root himself in the community.
What he sees isn't much different than what he's seen back home with the college football program he and his family have been involved with forever. Neither is the goal.
"The analogy is this -- the town of Knoxville rises and falls with the Vols," he said. "It's similar in Cleveland. When I'm back in Tennessee on those Saturdays after a win, there's a bounce in everyone's step, everyone's happier. The goal here is to give Cleveland some happier Sundays."
Four things to look for in Week 7
1) The post-Ray Lewis Baltimore Ravens.It's easy to forget that Baltimore went a month without its emotional tone-setter last season -- and thrived in that time. The Ravens were 4-0 in the games Lewis missed, replacing him with a combination of Jameel McClain, Dannell Ellerbe and Albert McClellan. After a slow start to that four-game stretch (allowing 483 yards and 24 points to the Bengals), the Ravens held the San Francisco 49ers to 170 yards and six points, the Browns to 233 yards and 10 points and the Indianapolis Colts to 167 yards and 10 points. Does that mean Baltimore's better off without Lewis? No. McClellan has been starting at outside linebacker for the Ravens this season, so depth was already thinned on the inside; the team was playing with Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson in 2011; and Ellerbe hasn't been the most reliable guy. But the experience of 2011 does provide something for the players to lean on. And the real boost they need should come when the injured Suggs returns, something the team is hoping happens in mid-November.
2) The Arizona Cardinals' ability to bounce back. With the NFC West strengthened, all of its teams have had their margin for error drastically reduced, and that puts the darlings of September in the crosshairs. Arizona's accomplishments during a 4-0 start weren't a mirage; this is a team with some very distinct strengths. But its holes could be big enough to take the whole operation down. "They're starting to get exposed," one pro scout said. "Very poor O-line play and poor quarterback play. Backup running back [William Powell] did a nice job Sunday, but teams aren't afraid of their run game at all anymore. They were at least more balanced early in the season. Their defense is still keeping them in games, and maybe the protection gets better without (Kevin) Kolb -- who holds the ball too long -- but it's tough to rectify poor O-line play midseason. They just don't have the guys up front." This week, they run into another early surprise team -- the Minnesota Vikings -- coming off a loss with something to prove. Should be an interesting one.
3) Robert Griffin III in NFC East play. New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle said earlier in the week that Griffin and Michael Vick are different quarterbacks, because it looks to him like the Washington Redskins rookie runs the ball more. Here's an amendment to that statement: Griffin goes on called runs a lot more, as part of an offense that relies on tenets of the option-based attacks at Oregon, Baylor and Ohio State. A lot of folks think that'll catch up to him. Last week, Mike Shanahan told me he's teaching Griffin that "sometimes, it needs to be 10 to 12 yards, and then slide." And if there's anywhere it's going to bite him, it'll be in the Redskins' division, whose teams will become familiar with him and the offense, and build a book on both. Interestingly enough, the Redskins matchup with the Giants is the first divisional game of the season for Washington. And it's the first chance for one of those soon-to-be familiar foes to set the tone for what's ahead.
4) The Patriots' offensive identity. Earlier in the year, Tom Brady acknowledged that the New England Patriots were shifting philosophically under new/old coordinator Josh McDaniels, which is why he wasn't surprised to see the fast start by the running game. That evolution certainly was affected by injuries to tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was out for nearly a month, and receiver Wes Welker's would-be replacement, Julian Edelman, who hasn't played since Week 3. As it turns out, Welker's still pretty good at age 31, and the Patriots have relied on him to make up the difference. But it's fair to wonder now if the Patriots still haven't found their identity on that side of the ball. It's hard to blame the offense for New England's three losses, particularly when a missed field goal cost the team a win over Arizona, and the defense crumbled late against Baltimore and the Seattle Seahawks. Still, the Patriots didn't get better as those games went on, and couldn't close opponents out when given the opportunity. These issues are fixable. McDaniels is sharp, Brady is elite, and it's a good bet they're going to be better in November and December than they are now. But you have to wonder if this transitional period could wind up being costly, in terms of playoff positioning, in the long run.
Three conclusions
1) Andy Reid is out of scapegoats. From 1999 to 2008, the Philadelphia Eagles enjoyed almost complete continuity. Joe Banner was the boss. Tom Heckert headed up personnel for most of those years. Reid ran the team on the field. Jim Johnson was in charge of defense. Donovan McNabb was the quarterback. And the one significant change -- Marty Mornhinweg taking Brad Childress' place as offensive coordinator -- came as a result of one of their own moving up. My, how things have changed. Banner and Heckert are gone, leaving after a power struggle within the ranks. McNabb was put out to pasture, and since then, two different quarterbacks have been declared the Eagles' future. And now Reid is on his third defensive coordinator since Johnson retired. The Eagles went to five NFC title games in the aforementioned period. They haven't won a playoff game since. Reason for alarm? Maybe not. But anyone in a position of power can only influence so much change before the finger is pointed at him. Which means there will be a ton of heat on Reid to make something good out of the sloppy 3-3 start that landed Juan Castillo on the unemployment line.
Breer: The power of Peyton
With Peyton Manning on board, the Broncos' equation has changed in a major way. Albert Breer explores how. **More ...**
2) The Broncos will catch fire. Coming off their Week 7 bye, the Denver Broncos enter a seven-game stretch that suggests a 7-0 run isn't inconceivable -- New Orleans Saints, at Bengals, at Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers, at Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at Oakland Raiders. Possible that Denver is 10-3 going into Baltimore on Dec. 16? It sure is, and that means this scenario isn't unlike the one in 2008, when Peyton Manning was coming off two knee surgeries and the Indianapolis Colts started 3-4 before winning nine straight. I asked Broncos tight end Jacob Tamme, who was a rookie with the '08 Colts, if it felt similar, and he smiled. "As a team, we're gonna get more comfortable as we go," Tamme responded. "Peyton has said that he's still kind of a work in progress. Played pretty darn good (against San Diego)." Broncos coach John Fox made it a little more succinct for me: "Like anything you build, it takes some time. The pieces are there. They're young players, they'll continue to get better just by the nature of it; the more you do it, the better you get." Denver still has some issues to work out -- the running game needs to improve, as does the run defense. But after six weeks, the arrow's pointing up. At a dinner in the offseason, owner Pat Bowlen proposed a toast, saying to a group of team employees, "Here's to a Super Bowl. Or else." My sense, given how the story was told, is he was joking then. But given the state of the AFC, it's not the craziest thing in the world to think that's possible.
3) London's calling. Most NFL powerbrokers think the league is still well over a decade away from putting a team overseas. But there is a small group of owners determined to push the league's attempt to grow that market to the point where it's feasible. And this week's NFL Fall Meeting provided a display as to how much clout those guys wield. Consider the steps taken in the past two months as Steps 2 and 3 on the path to putting a team there. Having a team in London annually -- in this case, the Jacksonville Jaguars -- will help the NFL measure how willing local fans are to support a single team. There's a novelty to different clubs coming in every year; this takes that away. And the second game, of course, further removes that novelty. We'll see how that works out over the next few years. Know this: Plenty of important people are rooting hard for this one to succeed.
Two college players to watch on Saturday
1) Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel (vs. LSU, Noon ET, ESPN). For one reason or another, elite left tackles haven't been entering the NFL at the same rate they used to. So when a good one comes along, evaluators take notice. And they've taken notice of Joeckel. "Really. (Expletive). Good," one AFC scout said in a text message. "He doesn't have much left to prove. But this week's a good test." On the other side of this matchup will be the Tigers' proven pass-rushing tandem of Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo. If Joeckel can show the feet and athletic ability to neutralize those two, who are considered freaks at the college level, then he'll again make a lot of people stand up and take notice.
2) Cal wide receiver Keenan Allen (vs. Stanford, 3 p.m. ET, FOX). Allen just posted his first 100-yard game of the season, but that's really through no fault of his own. With a dearth of other weapons around him, defenses have been able to gear up to stop him. And his quarterback, who also happens to be his half-brother, hasn't exactly lit the world on fire getting him the ball, either. But it's clear what kind of player he is: "Just a talented guy on a bad team," as one NFC exec said. "He's got speed, hands, RAC (run after catch) ability." Asked to name Allen's weaknesses, the exec responded, "Bad QB." This week provides Allen, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound specimen, a spotlight on national television to fight through a good defense focused on stopping him.
One prediction
Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett isn't going anywhere. Not soon, anyway. My old co-worker/buddy Jean-Jacques Taylor hit on this during the week, and I agree: Garrett is in the process of creating the kind of stability the Cowboys haven't had since their last championship.
Schein: How to fix the Cowboys
The bad news? Dallas has many problems. The good news? Adam Schein says one simple solution can begin to cure it all. **More ...**
The fact is, the Cowboys need another offseason to rework the roster. The interior of the offensive line needs reinforcing. A complementary receiver would be nice, as would a safety and another pass rusher. And more depth is necessary in several spots.
Also, Garrett needs to learn and grow as a head coach.
But the principles he brings -- part Jimmy Johnson, part Nick Saban -- are exactly what the franchise needs. So riding it out with Garrett, as the roster is shuffled and he learns more, is the right thing to do.
Follow Albert Breer on Twitter @AlbertBreer.

subset: commoncrawl


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Marketing automation is about delivering the right message.
Newcomers to marketing automation are often overwhelmed at the starting gate. And it's no wonder. The list of things automation systems can do is long.
Taking a zero-to-sixty approach is likely to make your head spin. Instead, a smooth transition calls for setting reasonable goals for a practical implementation and starting small.
In this ebook, we'll discuss the marketing automation basics beginners need to understand and share useful tips for getting started.
Related: what is marketing automation
1. Start smart with simple ROI-focused goals.
You might begin with a content offer or welcome campaign. Both are reasonable starting points, but companies will benefit from marketing automation in different ways.
Focus on ROI at the onset of your planning process. Set a simple goal such as save time, reduce labor costs, improve service, boost sales, etc. Time spent upfront on creating goals based on the key drivers of your company's success will increase your ROI immensely.
2. Understand your customer.
Do you know who your ideal customer is? Do you have a firm grasp on their pain points? What information do they seek while making purchase decisions? What channels are they most receptive to? Which devices do they rely on?
You've probably read that digital marketing begins with creating specific buyer personas. Don't forgo this step or you'll be stabbing in the dark with your automation efforts. Marketing automation is largely about delivering the right message to the right person at the right time. It's imperative you're intimately acquainted with "the right person." The mechanics come later.
Know your customers.
3. Map the process.
For each and every automation process you want to put in place, it's imperative to create a diagram of what happens from beginning to end. This is called a workflow.
Here's an example…
- a) A new visitor downloads a free guide.
- b) The system immediately sends a welcome email.
- c) For a day, maybe two or three, there is no activity.
- d) Email number two is sent.
- e) Activity is paused for some period.
- f) Activity resumes: those that clicked on the email are sent a message that goes deeper into the topic.
- g) Those that didn't click through, are sent an alternate message with a different offer.
Don't skip the mapping process. Your workflow diagrams enable you to trace any problematic issues to the source. They also make it far easier to repeat, measure and benchmark your automations.
4. Create a lead magnet.
You can't expect potential customers to invite you into their inboxes out of love for your website. And even if your content is great, asking visitors to subscribe to your newsletter will create a small trickle of leads at best. Recent research predicted in 2017, on average, business people will receive 92 emails each day.
To grow your email list at a much faster rate, you need to offer a lead magnet: free, relevant and valuable content such as an ebook, video, webinar, or mini-course. In addition to expanding your email list, your lead magnet presents an ideal opportunity to demonstrate your expertise and build trust.
5. Use forms.
More often than not, you'll read that a landing page – a page expressly designed to make an offer – is the proper way to capture leads. In many cases, especially when a new site visitor has clicked through from an ad, a landing page is ideal.
However, you're going to want to experiment with your lead magnet strategies on a variety of pages, possibly including your home page, product pages and blog posts. While you could create links on these pages that lead to landing pages, you don't need to. You'll create more work for yourself and your prospect.
Instead, take advantage of your marketing automation platform's functionality for building forms. Effective forms are tailored to specific offers (e.g. free downloads, event sign-up, etc.). What's more, you can present your forms to visitors however you choose and wherever you choose. For instance, popular choices today include forms served upon arrival, when scrolling, prior to exit, and of course, embedded on a page.
Use marketing automation for immediate response.
6. Fulfill requests immediately.
Customers expect fast responses from digital marketers. If you're slow to respond, you'll lose business to competitors who deliver on-demand. Set up your marketing automation system to respond immediately (the zero hour) to all requests that come in by way of any type of form. If a free resource is requested, prospects can be thanked via a popup, thank you page, email or any combination.
You can also ensure those that make an inquiry via your "contact" form get an immediate response. Your response will be based on a template you create to correspond to the inquiry, but can be set up to sound perfectly warm and personalized. What's more, you can create an alert system to have a salesperson or appropriate staff member respond quickly via phone or SMS.
7. Welcome new prospects.
One of the most important automation tools to set up is a welcome email. When a new contact subscribes to your list, welcome them with an email that sets a friendly tone and encourages newbies to engage with your business.
Welcome emails will likely garner the highest open rates because the relationship is new and your company is fresh on the mind of the prospect that just opted in. Here are a few tips for creating engaging welcome emails:
- Ask questions about the prospect's needs.
- Send a gift, discount or bonus offer.
- Tell recipients where to find valuable content on your website.
- Tell recipients what to expect in future emails.
- Tell recipients what to do next.
- Ask to make new social media connections.
- Consider creating a welcome series instead of a single email.
8. Score leads.
Marketing automation can, and should, prompt a variety of sales and marketing alignment processes within your company. In fact, many vendors (and users too) are wary of the term "marketing automation" because the scope extends beyond marketing and can be especially potent for sales.
Perhaps the best example is lead scoring, an automation routine used to rank and therefore, prioritize prospects, based on the value the lead represents. Each prospect is given points based on his or her engagement with your marketing.
An effective lead scoring system will enable your team to focus on the prospects with the highest potential to convert to customers. Lead scoring will help make the sales people's efforts more prolific and also inform your marketing strategy going forward.
9. Nurture.
Capturing an email address, or additional contact information, is a valuable first step, but hardly ensures you have a ready buyer on the line. As such, you'll want to automate a lead nurturing process to stay on the prospect's radar.
You can set up your system to send new communications at any interval and for any length of time. Your emails shouldn't be pushy, but instead, send resources of value to your prospects attempting to anticipate and fulfill their needs. You can make your nurturing sequence more personalized and increase receptiveness by offering the recipient the option to select the frequency, and/or types, of communications. For example, a reader may indicate she wants to see only monthly newsletters, product update notices, special offers, blog updates, or any combination.
Create a dialog with your customers.
10. Welcome new customers.
You got a sale. Awesome. With your marketing automation platform, it should mark the beginning of the relationship, not the end.
Send a series of welcome emails to new customers making it clear you value their business and will deliver what they need. Set up your system to trigger an email series beginning with a hearty thank you and introduction. Many of the tips offered above for welcoming new prospects can be applied all over again with a bent toward increasing the lifetime value of the customer.
Consider, also:
- Ways to cross-sell or upsell your products and service
- Sharing tips for getting the most from your solutions
- Asking for feedback or reviews
- Asking for referrals (with incentives)
Stay proactive, attempt to create a dialog, and continue being generous and thankful.
11. Encourage restocking.
Don't wait for customers to realize they need to restock and slowly come around to making the purchase. They may never do so. If your business sells products or services that have a regular replacement cycle, you'll increase sales by setting up email triggers to automatically remind them to re-order when their supply is likely to become exhausted.
Your campaigns need not be limited to identical replacements, like razors or contact lenses. Triggered emails can encourage customers to shop for new products or services on a cycle designed to match their purchasing habits.
12. Send surveys.
A great way to develop your relationship with both prospects and customers – and better understand their needs – is to send them surveys occasionally. Some survey strategies you may try include:
- Satisfaction surveys – How do they like your products or services?
- Review requests – How would they rate your solutions, content, website, delivery process, support, etc.?
- Needs and preferences – How could you deliver even higher satisfaction?
- Product requests – How could you improve or expand your product or service?
13. Request referrals.
Referral marketing (or word-of-mouth marketing) is the most powerful driver of buying decisions. Send emails asking your best customers to talk about your brand, share your news, and suggest to their friends to buy from you. Consider approaches such as refer-a-friend promotions and incentives for sharing their ideas, images, testimonials or reviews via social channels.
14. Re-engage and purge.
Building email lists takes time. And the reality is, over time, your list will include a number of inactive contacts. Marketing to these people can be a waste of resources. Therefore, effective marketing automation calls for purging your lists of unengaged contacts.
Before you do it's wise to try to re-engage with readers to ensure sure you don't cut the cord with those that want to remain in the loop. Your marketing automation platform will enable you to identify the "unengaged" based on criteria you set and then send them email offering the option to dropout or stick around.
A study by Return Path reveals 45% of recipients who received "win-back" emails read subsequent messages.
As you can see in the example above, re-engagement emails can be quite charming. Be creative. Be gentle. Attempt writing humorously and, of course, feel free to propose a great offer that's hard to decline.
15. Segmentation.
I want to tread lightly here because this is not for veterans of marketing automation and segmentation can indeed be the key to the most advanced techniques. However, it can also be very fundamental. Just imagine a few simple segments that could lend themselves to your company more finely tuned correspondence…
- Male vs. female
- Buyer vs. non-buyer
- Tennis player vs. golfer (for example)
- Downloaded specific content vs. didn't
- Webinar participant vs. non-participant
The idea is to create marketing your customer is more likely to value by understanding what they value. As you might have gathered from the examples I've listed, preferences can be based on demographics, behavior, buying patterns, and more.
The more you're willing and able to "filter" or segment your contact lists based on the data you have, the more you'll cash in on the "right message/right person/right time" trifecta that makes the register ring.
16. Test.
Perhaps the idea of testing your digital marketing efforts against each other also sounds like the domain of the advanced automation practitioner. It's not. It's easy and a remarkably valuable way to vastly improve your results.
Your marketing automation system makes it tremendously simple to perform tests such as A/B tests, which pit alternate versions against each other. What might you want to have alternate versions of?
- Email subject lines
- Email designs
- "From" line information
- Delivery schedules
- Copy passages
- Offers
- Forms
- Landing pages
Here, I A/B/C/D-tested four ideas. Four equal-sized samples of my general list (each represented 7% of the overall list for a total of 28%) received a different subject line. Since the goal is to get readers to click, I measure "click rate" to determine the winner. Subject line B won for both open rate and click rate, so it was sent to the remaining 72% of my list 24-hours later.
(Currently, which is just one day later, the open rate is more than 20% and the click rate is more than 3%.)
17. Let data drive.
Ultimately, marketing automation is about using data to improve your success. Your data gives you insights into your audience as well as what is and isn't working. The more you understand it, the better able you are to optimize your efforts and invest your resources where they will make a difference.
So, think and work full circle here. Re-read the first tip. It says "start smart with ROI-focused goals." Did you establish them? A subsequent action to take is to quantify them. As a practitioner of marketing automation, you want to keep score by measuring everything that matters – consistently.
Your platform should offer both high-level and detailed analytics. Most will enable you to create dashboards to take in the big picture and reports to drill down. Start by keeping tabs on some of the basics:
- Total number of contacts
- Number of contacts in important segments
- Growth rates of the above
- Email open & click-through rates
- Unsubscribe rate
- Website traffic
- Website traffic sources
- Onsite behavior
- Conversion rates
The more you pay attention to these metrics, the better you'll understand how people interact with your brand across various touch points.
- You'll get perpetually better at making your processes more efficient.
- You'll get perpetually better at making both your marketing strategy more targeted.
- You'll get perpetually better at making your marketing communications more persuasive.
More efficient. More targeted. More persuasive. There's a formula for making more money.
Welcome to marketing automation.
Author Barry Feldman
Barry Feldman is the author of "SEO Simplified for Short Attention Spans". Barry operates Feldman Creative and provides content marketing consulting, copywriting, and creative direction services. He contributes to many of the web's top marketing sites and was named one of 25 Social Media Marketing Experts You Need to Know by LinkedIn. If you would like a piece of his mind, visit his blog, The Point.
Connect with Barry on Twitter @feldmancreative
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The Wabash Cannonball Trail is a 63-mile multi-use recreational trail in Northwest Ohio. It provides non-motorized access to hikers, bikers, equestrians, and cross-country skiers. The 12-foot wide trail surface varies within the different jurisdictions, from asphalt to hard packed cinder ballast. The trail is a part of the nationwide movement to rejuvenate former railroad corridors into linear parks where people can enjoy the beauty and solitude of the outdoors while also providing a safe alternate mode of transportation between towns and villages along the route. There are more than 15,000 miles of rail-trails throughout the United States. View the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website for more information about rail-trails. Portions of the Wabash Cannonball Trail are also certified as segments of the North Country National Scenic Trail, a 4,600-mile long hiking trail connecting the Lewis and Clark Trail in western North Dakota with the Appalachian Trail in upstate New York. The Trail is administered by the National Park Service.
When Norfolk Southern Railroad announced the abandonment of service on this rail line in 1990, several local visionaries and enthusiasts gathered to share ideas about creating a public recreational trail and utility corridor. Their dream became a reality on March 24, 1994, when the corridor was purchased from Norfolk Southern. The Wabash Cannonball Trail is one of Ohio's longest rail-trails, covering a total of 63 miles and traversing four counties: Fulton, Henry, Lucas, and Williams. The Trail is owned by several partners within the four counties. With the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) acting as coordinating partner for the project, the land-owning partners are Lucas County, the city of Maumee, Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Association, Inc. (NORTA), the Metropark District of the Toledo Area, the city of Wauseon, and the village of Whitehouse. The Trail is actually comprised of two rail lines that converge in Maumee at Jerome Road. The "North Fork" of the Trail runs in an east-west direction, 46 miles from Maumee to within 15 miles of the Indiana state line near Montpelier, Ohio. The "South Fork" takes a southwesterly route from Maumee to the edge of Liberty Center, Ohio for a length of 17 miles. The average width of the Trail corridor is 100 feet, with the width of the Trail surface being 10-12 feet. If you traverse the length of the Trail, you will cross over 13 bridges. The longest of these is the Tiffin River Bridge, at 210 feet in length. The Beaver Creek Bridge is the highest, at 38 feet above water level. When Trail development is fully completed, the Trail will be surfaced with finely crushed stone in the rural areas and asphalt through the more populated areas. In the interim, as the Trail is opened section by section, you may find the surface a bit rough in spots. Mountain and hybrid/cross bikes will have no problem traveling on all open sections of the Trail.
Hikes of varying distances are possible from trailheads on the Wabash Cannonball Trail.
Content from Official Website


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ATLANTA - No LeBron James? No Dwyane Wade?
No problem.
Mario Chalmers and Chris Bosh made up for the absence of the Miami's injured stars, carrying the Heat to a 116-109 triple overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night.
With James and Wade cheering from the bench, Bosh scored 33 points and Chalmers had 22 of his 29 points after the third quarter, including five of Miami's seven points in the third overtime.
"Coach said I had to be aggressive," Chalmers said.
Wade missed his second straight game with a sore left foot and James was held out after he turned his left ankle late in the third quarter of Wednesday night's 118-83 win over Indiana. Neither was in uniform.
Bosh hit a last-second, tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation to force the first overtime.
"It was a lucky shot," Bosh said.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said his team survived a test of its character.
"That game, the way it went down in the end, was an exercise in absolute endurance and mental and physical toughness," Spoelstra said.
"Both teams played their hearts out there at the end."
Joe Johnson had 20 points for the Hawks, who did not score in the third extra period. It was only the 10th time in NBA history that a team did not score in an overtime period.
Josh Smith added 17 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta, which was seeking its second win over the Heat in four days but missed 15 of 46 free throws.
Hawks coach Larry Drew said his players ignored his warning against a letdown if James and Wade didn't play.
"There was a total, total mental letdown," Drew said, adding his players lacked the spark they had when they won 100-92 in Miami on Monday.
"I didn't see the sense of urgency I saw in Miami," Drew said. "The tendency is to let your guard down, and we certainly did tonight."
Bosh, the only healthy member of Miami's Big Three, also had 14 rebounds. Rookie Terrel Harris had nine points and 14 rebounds.
The Hawks led 93-90 when Bosh launched the tying 3-point attempt from the wing over Marvin Williams with only six-tenths of a second remaining in regulation.
Miami took a 67-54 lead on a 3-pointer by Chalmers midway through the third before the Hawks closed the quarter with a 16-1 run to take control.
Little-used rookie Ivan Johnson was a big surprise with 13 points for Atlanta. Johnson, an undrafted player from Cal State-San Bernardino, had a steal and jam to cut Miami's lead to one point and then closed the third quarter with two free throws to give the Hawks their first lead of the second half.
Ivan Johnson and Al Horford fouled out in the third overtime.
Drew said he turned to Ivan Johnson and Willie Green, who had 14 points, because he was "really searching" for players who showed "a sense of urgency."
Spoelstra said before the game that Wade "was a little bit more unlikely" than James to play. Afterward, Spoelstra said he was trying to protect Wade from a more serious injury.
"He's making progress with it, but we really want to take care of this before it's something that can linger," Spoelstra said.
Wade hurt his foot at Charlotte on Dec. 28.
James participated in pregame warmups but his status for Miami's game at New Jersey on Saturday remains uncertain.
"He's walking around and hopefully he'll be able to play soon," Spoelstra said. "Whether that will be Saturday, I don't know."
James and Wade were often active and animated as they watched from Miami's bench, at times leaping up as they reacted to plays.
James Jones and Shane Battier were the fill-in starters.
"I hope the guys realize it doesn't matter who's in the uniform, it's the standard of play," said Battier, who had nine points and played a lead role in defending Joe Johnson, who made only 7 of 20 shots from the field.
"I've been in a lot of games in my 10 years in the league and this is right up there," Battier said.
The Hawks, whose win at Miami gave the Heat their only loss, struggled with poor shooting as there were 17 lead changes in the first half.
Miami led 54-49 at halftime.
Notes: The Hawks' last triple-overtime game was a 123-121 loss at Houston on Feb. 22, 2004. ... G-F Tracy McGrady played 29 minutes off Atlanta's bench after coach Larry Drew said the veteran's status was uncertain due to a bruised knee. ... The Hawks play at Charlotte on Friday and host Chicago on Saturday to complete three games in three days. ... Heat F Mike Miller, recovering from hernia surgery, has been cleared for full contact. Spoelstra said he would ease Miller into action.


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Human Rights are life activities that all people should have the freedom to pursue without fear of discrimination or harassment. The Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance and state law protect people from discrimination when engaging in the following protected activities within the city of Charlottesville:
The Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance and state law protect people from discrimination when engaging in the above protected activities on the basis of the following protected classes:
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The Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance is a part of City code that defines how human rights are protected within the City of Charlottesville. It also specifies the roles that the Office of Human Rights and the Human Rights Commission in enforcing those protections. Under the Human Rights Ordinance, the term "unlawful discriminatory practice" includes conduct in violation of any comparable Virginia or federal statute or regulation governing unlawful discrimination.
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) is a group of volunteers appointed by City Council to promote an inclusive, empowered, and diverse community through community education and engagement, as well as enforcement of the Human Rights Ordinance. The HRC also reviews City policies and provides recommendations to City Council for changes in policy that promote and protect human rights. View more information on the Commission page.
The Dialogue on Race was a community initiative with the mission of engaging every segment of our community in an open, honest, and on-going discussion of race, racism and diversity and identifying problems and proposing concrete solutions and paths to action that promote racial reconciliation, economic justice and equity. The Human Rights Commission and the Office of Human Rights arose from the work of a task force that emerged from the Dialogue on Race.


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J.K. Rowling returns to wizarding world for screenplay debut
LONDON: Best-selling "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling will return to the wizarding world for her screenplay debut with a film inspired by one of her fictional boy wizard's textbooks.
Rowling has agreed to write the screenplay for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", a film from Warner Bros. based on the adventures of Newt Scamander – the fictional author of a Hogwarts textbook of the same name.
"I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it," Rowling said on Thursday in an emailed statement from Warner Bros. Entertainment, a unit of Time Warner Inc (TWX.N).
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" will be the first in a series of films about the adventures of Scamander and will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, the 48-year-old Rowling said.
But the story will start in New York, 70 years before the Potter tale gets under way.
"Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world," she said.
Warner Bros. has distribution rights outside Britain of the BBC TV adaptation of Rowling's first adult novel "The Casual Vacancy", Harry Potter theme parks, websites, videogames and consumer products.
Rowling said that Warner Bros. approached her with the pitch for the film, but she could not stomach the idea of someone else writing one of her own characters.
"I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of 'Fantastic Beasts', realised by another writer was difficult," she said.
"As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood."
Since her seven Harry Potter novels became a global publishing phenomenon, selling an estimated 450 million copies, Rowling's every move is followed closely by the industry.
The books, and a hugely successful movie franchise, helped turn her into the world's first author billionaire.
However, Rowling has repeatedly said that she had no plans to write any more about the world of Harry Potter since her last book in the series "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" came out in 2007.


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5 CFR § 185.137 - Initial decision.
(a) The ALJ shall issue an initial decision based only on the record, which shall contain findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the amount of any penalties and assessments imposed.
(b) The findings of fact shall include a finding on each of the following issues:
(1) Whether the claims or statements identified in the complaint, or any portions thereof, violate § 185.103.
(2) If the person is liable for penalties or assessments, the appropriate amount of any such penalties or assessments considering any mitigating or aggravating factors that he or she finds in the case, such as those described in § 185.133.
(c) The ALJ shall promptly serve the initial decision on all parties within 90 days after the time for submission of post-hearing briefs and reply briefs (if permitted) has expired. The ALJ shall at the same time serve all parties with a statement describing the right of any defendant determined to be liable for a civil penalty or assessment to file a motion for reconsideration with the ALJ or a notice of appeal with the authority head. If the ALJ fails to meet the deadline contained in this paragraph, he or she shall notify the parties of the reason for the delay and shall set a new deadline.
(d) Unless the initial decision of the ALJ is timely appealed to the authority head, or a motion for reconsideration of the initial decision is timely filed, the initial decision shall constitute the final decision of the authority head and shall be final and binding on the parties 30 days after it is issued by the ALJ.


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JST, Genesis 19:9–15. Compare Genesis 19:8–10
Lot resists the wickedness of Sodom, and angels protect him.
9 And they said unto him, Stand back. And they were angry with him.
10 And they said among themselves, This one man came in to sojourn among us, and he will needs now make himself to be a judge; now we will deal worse with him than with them.
11 Wherefore they said unto the man, We will have the men, and thy daughters also; and we will do with them as seemeth us good.
12 Now this was after the wickedness of Sodom.
13 And Lot said, Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, plead with my brethren that I may not bring them out unto you; and ye shall not do unto them as seemeth good in your eyes;
14 For God will not justify his servant in this thing; wherefore, let me plead with my brethren, this once only, that unto these men ye do nothing, that they may have peace in my house; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
15 And they were angry with Lot and came near to break the door, but the angels of God, which were holy men, put forth their hand and pulled Lot into the house unto them, and shut the door.


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"What do you want with a dead mouse, anyways?"
I started working on a knuckleball.
Why, you may ask? Does it have anything to do with the recent loss of a job I've worked for 30 years?
Yep, that was soul-crushing. Still more devastating is knowing that at 56, my life's résumé feels fossilized, typewritten, landlined and snail-mailed in an iPad-Twitter-Android world that demands breakneck speed.
But I refuse to be farmed out to "the old guy with antiquated skills searching for any kind of crummy job" demographic. The knuckler is my answer to the speed. A secret weapon from the Walter Mitty part of my brain. Instead of staying down, I've decided to reinvent myself with a new career I choose and love. So I'm prepping myself to be a major league knuckleball pitcher.
Sure, it's a wild, long shot idea. And yeah, I'm kind of old for baseball. But I'm an "in good shape" old. And the knuckleball isn't about athletic prowess, it's about guile. I'm loaded with guile. To make my new career a success, I just need to master the slow-moving, floating pitch that never knows what it's going to do.
I've marked off 60 feet, 6 inches from my shed to a 2-foot board in my backyard. It's the official major league distance between home plate and the pitcher's mound. The two-by-four is my pitcher's rubber. The shed is my catcher and backstop.
It's 30-some degrees outside, and I'm dressed in a stocking cap, sweats and mitt. My family is at work or school. I've let my fingernails grow out for the knuckler. I've been studying every knuckleball video I can find on the Internet.
I go through the odd mechanics of the pitch. With the ball balanced on my fingertips, I pitch out of a stretch and push the ball toward its intended target. It arcs high, drops, bounces to the plate and plunks against my makeshift catcher. From my vantage, it looks like it floated and feels like it floated. I chuckle to myself, assured I can really develop this crackpot pitch with practice.
Plonk, plonk, plonk sounds the practice beat of my tosses against the shed. The feel of a baseball in my hand creates the joy of being with a childhood friend. Its raised red stitches and hard horsehide miraculously loosen my limbs and my load.
But paranoia peeks in. I think I should get out my ax and chop a few logs in case a neighbor peers over our fence, wondering what the noise is. I don't want anyone to think I am crazy.
I imagine major league hitters slipping spinal discs as they powerfully swing, lunge, hack and miss my new best friend. I pump myself up with positive thoughts: The Indians need pitching. ... If 60 is the new 50, then my 56 is the new 46, the same age as Phil Niekro when he was still baffling hitters with his dancing, capricious masterpiece. Every pitch I throw sharpens my mind's eye. I envision a Disney movie, with George Clooney as me, recounting my quixotic quest to make the major leagues at 56.
After a game's worth of practice, I head to the mailbox. There, the postal service lets me know it can also throw a pretty good pitch. It's a fat box of bill after bill. Suddenly my stomach hurts with truths much more painful than the loss of my job: a past that wants to get paid and a future with not much time left for whimsy. I'm instantly stricken with rational thoughts.
"Who am I kidding?" I ask myself, as the Indians, Disney, George Clooney and my dignity fade to oblivion. I need to man up, get my mind right and set my sights to more attainable goals.
But what? What is there left for a me generation disciple when nobody cares about the "me" anymore?
Country music singer immediately panics into my mind. I still have my guitar!
STOP! Take a deep breath and think. You're a survivor. Dismiss the panic and loss of job and identity. Accept that even though life doesn't always turn out like a fairy tale, it doesn't make it a failure. Appreciate what you already have: a beautiful wife and two children who don't care if you are a professional athlete, a star country singer — or a suddenly old and unemployed construction worker.
My balance and sanity return. I finally admit that getting older isn't the most awful sin. The loss of hope and fancy is.
My future years will probably not include climbing Mount Everest, swimming the English Channel or even learning to throw a decent knuckleball. But that's OK. Because no matter where life takes me, I can bring my fantasies. That's a big gift from me to my sanity. I can forever believe in them and find solace in them — even if they are the dead mice in the loose pockets of a long-gone youth.


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20. Wisdom and the Will of God
Many Christians seek divine guidance in terms of some simplistic formula: "Consider the Scriptures, your feelings, and the circumstances. When these three line up, you have the will of God." I believe that the Bible gives us no such formulas. The Christian life is a life of faith, lived in accordance with the Word of God, applied by means of the wisdom which God gives (cf. James 1:5). In the introduction to the Book of Proverbs the author assures the reader that this book will provide valuable insight into the will of God:
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning set guidance (Prov. 1:1-5, NIV).
I am convinced that no other Old Testament book, and perhaps no book of the New Testament, gives us greater insight into the will of God than does the Book of Proverbs. As we conclude our study of this very practical book, let us carefully consider the subject of divine guidance as it is taught here.
The Need for Divine Guidance
Proverbs assumes that divine guidance is vital to living a life which is characterized by wisdom and godliness. If we are to appreciate the importance of divine guidance we must first understand why man so desperately needs it. Let us look first at three reasons why man needs God's guidance.
1. DIVINE GUIDANCE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE MAN IS SIMPLE. According to Proverbs, to be simple is to be inexperienced, gullible, and vulnerable.. While this condition is especially characteristic of the young, it is also the malady of mankind in general. The human mind is incapable of knowing the mind and the heart of God apart from supernatural initiative and enablement (cf. 1 Cor. 2:6-16).
Before the fall, Adam and Eve were not plagued with a nature predisposed to sin. Yet in their innocence, they were also inexperienced. Satan tempted them by offering an experience which God had prohibited. In their naivet, they did not know the deceiving and cunning nature of Satan, nor did they fully grasp the danger of disobeying God. In Proverbs, Madam Folly offers the naive experience also (9:16-17), but it is always the kind of experience we will wish we had avoided. God's Word informs men of those hidden dangers of life which we have not yet experienced, and which we hopefully never will. Divine guidance informs man of what he does not know (by virtue of ignorance and inexperience), but what he must know if he would be godly and wise.
2. DIVINE GUIDANCE IS REQUIRED BECAUSE MAN IS SINFUL. Proverbs teaches us that when man "does what comes naturally" he does what is both foolish and contrary to the will of God. The young man is urged not to trust in his own wisdom, but in God's (3:5-7). To become wise one must turn from his folly and fear God (1:22; 2:2; 8:5,10,13; 9:6). The root problem of man is the condition of his heart (4:23). Our evil heart inclines us toward sin and folly, not righteousness (6:14,18). Our inability to grasp God's ways and His will stems not only from our human frailty (our simplicity), but from our fallenness. If being human hinders us from knowing God's will, our sinfulness hinders us from seeking it or submitting to it. If we do not know God's will due to our humanity, we will not search for it nor find it due to our depravity:
'There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God" (Rom. 3:10-11).
3. DIVINE GUIDANCE IS REQUIRED BECAUSE MAN IS SOLICITED TO SIN BY OTHERS. Satan is portrayed as an aggressive enemy, who seeks to deceive men and to distort the Word of God (e.g. 1 Pet. 5:8). This happened first in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3; cf. 1 Tim. 2:14; 4:1-5). Frequently, Satan employs others in his diabolical schemes (cf. 2 Cor. 11:13-15).In the Book of Proverbs we see men being solicited to sin by violent men (e.g. 1:10-19) and seductive women (e.g. 2:16-19). While we do not naturally know the will of God and are inclined not to seek it due to our depravity, there will be many who will seek to persuade us that they do have a plan for us, a plan which our fallen nature is inclined to accept. Divine guidance is required to separate the good from the evil, and that which is foolish from that which is wise.
The Nature of Divine Guidance
Most Christians are more acutely aware of the need for divine guidance than they are informed about the nature of it. There are several characteristics of divine guidance which can be observed in the Book of Proverbs, which are also seen elsewhere in the Scriptures.
1. DIVINE GUIDANCE IS DISCERNED PRIMARILY BY MEANS OF WISDOM. J. I. Packer, in his justly acclaimed book, Knowing God, has included a chapter (20) on guidance entitled, "Thou Our Guide." Originally this chapter was published in booklet form under the title, Guidance and Wisdom. Packer maintains that wisdom and guidance are inseparable, a conclusion with which the Book of Proverbs concurs. If the purpose of Proverbs is to make men wise, Proverbs also assures us that wisdom is one of God's primary means of discerning the will of God:
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; To give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion, a wise can will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel (1:1-5).
In verse 2 above, the words "discern" and, "understanding" are both related to the same Hebrew preposition which means "between."62 To have discernment is to possess the ability to tell the difference between two alternatives. Wisdom enables men to distinguish between good and evil, and between good and better.
In verse 4 the term "discretion" also relates to decision-making,63 but perhaps of even greater interest is the expression "wise counsel" in verse 5. In my opinion the NIV correctly renders the original word "guidance." The Hebrew term appears to be a word used of the ropes connected to the rudder of ancient ships which enabled the captain to direct its course.64
The one who acquires "wise counsel" from the Book of Proverbs is, indeed, the one who has come to "know the ropes," a person who has obtained the steering ropes of the Word of God which will guide him through life. If God guides us primarily through wisdom, it is important that we understand the components of wisdom. We shall seek to consider these in the characteristics of divine guidance which follow.
2. WISDOM AND DIVINE GUIDANCE MUST BE BASED UPON DIVINE REVELATION. Many Christians expect God to reveal His will in some bizarre and spectacular way, rather than accepting the fact that God has already revealed His will (in the vast majority of instances) through His Word. Solomon knew that the Old Testament Law was God's standard for man's conduct:
As David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying,
"I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn" (1 Kings 2:1-3).
While references in Proverbs to God's Word--His divine revelation to men through the Scriptures--are infrequent, this revelation is assumed, and it is viewed as an infallible, authoritative word from God which serves as a measure of men's thoughts and deeds. Occasionally, a specific reference to the law is found in Proverbs (28:4,7,9). Biblical revelation is also referred to as "the word' (13:13; 16:20) or "the word of God:"
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar (30:5-6).
Divine revelation has a variety of forms, three of which are precepts, principles, and patterns. Precepts are the commands of God which are specific and clear-cut. We are commanded, both in Proverbs and elsewhere, not to commit adultery, which is sin (cf. Exod. 20:14; Prov. 5:1-23; 6:29). So, too, lying is sin (cf. Exod. 20:16; Prov. 6:19; 19:5,9). Proverbs is not ambiguous concerning sin, for the Scriptures Right and wrong are defined in very concrete terms:
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion (Prov. 28:13).
A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight (11:1).
In some instances, Proverbs refers to "the commandment," where the reference seems to be to the law of Moses:
The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded (Prov. 13:13).
Most often, however, the "commandments" spoken of in Proverbs are those of the parents:
My son, if you will receive my sayings, And treasure my commandments within you (Prov. 2:1).
My son, keep my words, and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching [lit., law] as the apple of your eye (Prov. 7:1-2).
While not inerrant, inspired, or infallible, parental instruction was necessary to teach God's law to each new generation (cf. Exod. 12:26-27; 13:14-15; Deut. 6:6-9; 20-25). In Proverbs, instruction is given through parents (1:8; 3:1; 4:2; 6:20,23) and others who are wise (e.g. 5:13; 13:14).So far as I can tell the "commandments" of the parents spoken of in Proverbs were a reiteration, explanation, or application of the commandments of the law of Moses. I believe that parents and the wise sought to teach each new generation the law of God and to give instruction and guidelines based upon the divine revelation of the will of God in the Scriptures which were then available.
In addition to the clear-cut directives of Proverbs ("precepts"), principles are set down, which are more general in nature and provide broader guidelines for those who wish to know God's will and to do it:
In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty (14:23).
A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger (15:1).
The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds persuasiveness to his lips (16:23).
The first to plead his case seems just, Until another comes and examines him (18:17).
Prepare your work outside, And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house (24:27).
In addition to the precepts and principles of Scripture, there are also what we might call patterns. I'm not sure that "patterns" is the best word, but, by it, I am referring to those truths of Scripture which have great relevance to us, but in a less direct way than precepts or principles. When the Scriptures tell us what God is like--His character and conduct--we can infer that we should be like-God, godly. Parental discipline, for example, should be patterned after God's discipline of His children.
Proverbs tells us that God hates wickedness (6:16-19; 15:8-9), evil schemes (12:2; 15:26), dishonesty (11:1; 20:10,23), crookedness (11:20), falsehood (12:22), pride (16:5), and neglect of the law (28:9).We are also told that God delights in righteousness (15:8-9), goodness (12;2), honesty (11:1), integrity (11:20), truth (12:22), and wisdom (8:35). It does not take a great deal of insight to conclude that we should shun what God hates and seek what brings Him delight.
3. DIVINE GUIDANCE CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH WISE COUNSEL. Guidance is not only given through the commandments of the Scriptures, it is also obtained through the counsel of those who are wise:
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners (Ps. 1:1).
Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine (Prov. 8:14).
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel (Prov. 12:15).
Through presumption comes nothing but strife, But with those who receive counsel is wisdom (Prov. 13:10).
There are two kinds of counsel: the words Of the wise and the advice of the wicked (cf. also James 3:13-18). Proverbs informs us that no true counsel is ever contrary to the character or commandments of God:
There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord (21:30).
God has given each generation those who are older and wiser than they so that they might learn from the experience and the insight of those who have traveled further down the path of righteousness. Divine guidance is to be found through the counsel of those who are wise.
4. DIVINE GUIDANCE REQUIRES CONFIDENCE AND COMMITMENT. Before we can answer the question, "What shall I do?" we must first ask the question, "Whom do I trust?" The greatest obstacle to my seeking the will of God and doing it is my attitude of self-sufficiency and self-trust. Proverbs teaches that the evil man is arrogant and presumptuous. He cannot fathom righteousness, and he will not seek it. The one who would enter the way of wisdom is he who would first of all forsake trusting in himself--in his natural reasoning:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil (Prov 3:5-7).
Nowhere does faith in God cast aside all reason, but it must lay aside merely human reason (e.g. Matt. 16:23). Becoming wise and discerning God's will is only possible when we forsake all confidence in our own reason, which has suffered from the effects of the fall, and when we come to rely fully on God's revelation, on His wisdom, not our own.
In addition, divine guidance requires commitment. Human reason rests only on what we can see, on our own perception of matters as viewed in the context of present circumstances. Divine guidance rests upon the promises of God, on those "things which are not seen" (cf. Heb. 11:1). This is the substance of Hebrews chapter 11. Men and women of faith are those who live life in the present in the light of God's promises which are yet future. The will of God is known by those who are willing to commit their future into the hands of the God of the Bible.
This helps to explain why the will of God is not always easy to discern. If guidance is granted largely through wisdom, guidance will not come easily because wisdom does not come without great effort. Repeatedly in Proverbs we are told that wisdom is only for those who will diligently seek it:
My son, if you will receive my sayings, and treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord,. and discover the knowledge of God (Prov. 2:1-5).
God does not cast His pearls before swine. He does not make wisdom easy to find because only the diligent will obtain it. Since wisdom is difficult to obtain, it requires even more diligence to put into practice. We should not expect divine guidance to come easily, nor should we deceive ourselves into thinking that doing it will be without sacrifice and commitment. The more I study the subject of divine guidance in the Scriptures, the more I realize that the greatest problem we must face is the commitment to do what we know to be right.
This week I read of an incident in the 42nd chapter of the Book of Jeremiah which illustrates the problem most of us have with divine guidance. A small remnant of Jewish people had been left in the land of Canaan after their nation had been carried off into captivity in Babylon. This remnant came to the prophet, requesting him to seek divine guidance for them:
"Please let our petition come before you, and pray for us to the Lord your God, that is for all this remnant; because we are left but a few out of many, as your own eyes now see us, that the Lord your God may tell us the way in which we should walk and the thing that we should do" (Jer. 42:2-3).
After ten days God's will was made known to Jeremiah. This remnant was not to flee to Egypt for safety, but was to trust in God and remain in the land of promise. No matter how great the danger of staying in Canaan appeared to be, God promised to protect and to bless those who stayed, but warned of destruction for those who would seek safety and security in anyone or anything but God. In spite of clear direction from God through the prophet Jeremiah, the remnant went on to Egypt, trusting in the "arm of the flesh," rather than in God.
Isn't this the problem we all face? We want divine guidance, but we want it to agree with our estimation of what we should do. Divine guidance begins with a distrust of human reason and a dependence upon divine revelation and promises. Divine guidance requires a commitment to seek the will of God diligently and then to heed it, whether we agree with it or not.
5. DIVINE GUIDANCE IS A MATTER OF CHARACTER. We are accustomed to hearing, "As a man thinks, so he is." While this is a biblical truth (Prov. 23:7), the Bible has more than this to say about the relationship between a man's character and his conduct. I believe that the Scriptures go on to say, "As a man is, so he thinks and so he acts." That is, a man's character determines his thinking and his actions. Let me first establish this premise and then go on to explore its implications.
When I speak of a person's character I am referring to their moral condition which consistently works itself out in a predictable and consistent way. The word "way" or "ways" is often employed in Proverbs to depict character. Animals have their "ways," a predictable, consistent pattern of behavior which is a part of their nature:
There are three things which are too wonderful for me, four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid. This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong" (Prov. 30:18-20).
Go to the ant, 0 sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise (Prov. 6:6).
As Proverbs 30:19-20 (above) indicate, men also have their "ways." One's character, his "way," can be discerned by the pattern he has established in his conduct:
She [the adulteress] does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it (Prov. 5:6).
Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, lest you learn his ways, and find a snare for yourself (Prov. 22:24-25).
Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings (Prov. 31:3).
In these passages and countless others a man's character is referred to as his "way" or "ways." Thus we read, in 2 Chronicles of the "ways of Jehoshaphat" and the "ways of Asa" (21:12), a reference to the character of these men. Each individual act of our life is a part of a pattern of behavior which is our "way," our character.
God, too, has His "ways," and these are always pure:
"The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He" (Deut. 32:4).
I will meditate on all Thy work, and muse on Thy deeds. Thy way, O God, is holy; what god is great like our God? (Ps. 77:13).
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His deeds (Ps. 145:17).
God's ways are infinitely more righteous than man's:
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are I, ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8-9).
If men are to have intimate contact with God they must conform their ways to His ways. As God said to the nation Israel:
"For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy.." (Lev. 11:44; cf. 1 Pet. 1:16).
Consequently, God has prescribed the "way" we should live, the standard for our character and conduct. This "way" is defined by the Word of God:
Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth; Unite my heart to fear Thy name (Ps. 86:11).
I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Thine ordinances before me. I cleave to Thy testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I shall run the way of Thy commandments, for Thou wilt enlarge my heart. Teach me, 0 Lord, the way of Thy statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law, and keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Thy commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Thy testimonies, and not to dishonest gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Thy ways (Ps. 119: 30-37).
In the final analysis, there are only two "ways." Proverbs persistently points us to the two "ways" of life: the way of evil, which leads to death and destruction (e.g. 2:12; 4:14,19; 8:3; 10:29; 12:15; 15:19; 16:25; 22:5; 28:10), and the way of wisdom and righteousness, which leads to life (e.g. 4:11; 6:23; 9:6; 12:28; 15:10; 16:13; 21:16; 22:6).The man who is wise is the one who chooses to make his ways conform to God's ways.
I believe that Proverbs teaches us that a man's character is the description of his typical conduct. The sluggard has certain tell-tale characteristics, just as do the simple, and the fool. Likewise, the wise has identifiable traits which can be observed. The wise is slow to speak and weighs his words. The wise gives thought to the consequences of his actions, while the fool does not. The wise listens to counsel, but the fool goes on without taking heed to wisdom or warnings. A man's character (what he is) is discerned by what he does.
In the broadest terms, God's will for man is that he walk in the way which He has prescribed in His Word. One's character not only describes his walk, but also predisposes his response to the revealed will of God. Character determines a man's desires. The wicked delight in wickedness, while the righteous delight in what is holy and pure and wise:
Desire realized is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil (Prov. 13:19).
"How long, 0 naive ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? (Prov. 1:22).
Who delight in doing evil, And rejoice in the perversity of evil (Prov. 2:14).
A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind (Prov. 18:2).
The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath (Prov. 11:23).
Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways (Prov 23:26).
A man's character is what he is, which determines what he will think, who he will listen to, and what he will do. In Proverbs 17:4 we read,
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. A liar (character) does not listen to wise counsel, but only gives attention to those whose advice squares with his (immorality).
The New Testament teaches this truth as well. In Ephesians we read:
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest (Eph. 2:1-3).
By nature, we were lost, dead in our sins. We did not know God nor serve Him. Instead, we were followers of Satan, indulging both our minds and our flesh in the ways of sin.
In the Book of Ephesians and other epistles, Paul exhorted Christians to seek to conform their character to their calling and their confession of faith (cf. Eph. 4:1-6:20; Col. 3:1-4:6). James writes that he cares little what one confesses to be, for it is by our conduct and our character that we reveal genuine conversion. Our character shapes our thinking and our actions. What we are determines what we think and what we do:
To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed (Titus 1:15-16).
1 have become increasingly convinced that a man's character is one of the most powerful forces in determining his decisions. I would therefore suggest that no ingredient is more important in the process of divine guidance than that of the character of the one who seeks to be guided. As we have seen from Proverbs 17:4, the liar will not listen to anyone but the wicked. The reason is very simple: an evil man has no inclination and no intention of doing what is pure and right. The mere thought of forsaking evil and doing good is repulsive to the wicked, for he delights in doing what is wrong.
The key to obtaining divine guidance in Proverbs is the development of godly character. That is why the book spends so much time describing the undesirable character of the sluggard, the simple, the scoffer, and the fool. Proverbs seeks to develop our character by instructing us to be wise and godly. Godly men and women will not only seek God's will and find it--they will do it. Wicked men do not seek divine guidance, nor would they practice it if they found it.
In addition to a man's character predisposing him to certain decisions, there are at least two other ways that character relates to divine guidance. Namely, God's character should greatly influence the believer to seek divine guidance and to follow it. God's character is the pattern for our thoughts and actions, but it is also the basis for our confidence and trust in Him to guide us in the right path. Just as faith in my doctor prompts me to follow his medical counsel, faith in God inspires me to seek His will and follow it.
Then, too, the character of others provides me with a basis for guidance. One of the best tests of a life's mate is godly character (cf. Prov. 31:10-311. Character is to be a determining factor in the choice of one's friends and associates (Prov. 20:19; 22:24; 24:21). The way Scripture states that I should respond to men is determined by an assessment of their character. For example, I am encouraged to reprove a wise man and yet instructed not to attempt to correct a fool or a scoffer (cf. Prov. 12:15; 13:1; 14:16; 15:12; 17:10; 23:9; 26:4-5).
The wise are counseled not to teach or correct the fool because they spurn wise counsel and scorn right actions. Do you see the point? You cannot guide a fool because a fool does not want direction. Thus character is crucial in matters of divine guidance. Only the godly will be guided in the paths of righteousness and wisdom. The fool will invariably return to the way of folly, just as the dog does to his vomit (Prov. 26:11).
Much of what I have said about divine guidance is not new, but nevertheless needs to be said by way of reminder (cf. 2 Pet. 3:1). Guidance is primarily discerned by means of wisdom, and wisdom is obtained through the commandments of the Word of God, the counsel of the wise, and the commitment of the one seeking to know the will of God.
In addition, we have learned that our character is, perhaps, the determinant factor in responding to divine guidance. Those who are wise will discern the guidance of God (Prov. 1:1-6), while the foolish will not seek it. That is why Proverbs concentrates upon our character. The evils of Proverbs are those character traits which are inconsistent with wisdom and godliness, such as simplicity, foolishness, an uncontrolled temper, immorality, and laziness.
As I have studied character in relationship to divine guidance it has occurred to me that here, as in many other areas of the Christian life, we have been guilty of "straining gnats and swallowing camels" (Matt. 23:24). We have focused our attention on the particulars of the will of God but have neglected the paths which the Word of God so clearly defines.
I think that many of us are asking for divine guidance about a particular decision along life's path when we are on the wrong path. Our search for divine guidance would be something like Jonah, praying that God would lead him to find a ship to Tarshish, when God had told him to go to Ninevah. We need not seek to learn if God would have Sally to be our wife if Sally is an unbeliever or is known for her lack of character.
I am convinced that the vast majority of decisions which the Christian is called to make are matters that can be determined by the path we are on, the path so clearly laid out in the Scriptures. I also believe that those particular decisions which do not have a moral dimension, which are neither "good" nor "bad," may therefore be matters of Christian liberty, matters which may be of indifference to God. If not, God can surely direct us just as He has always led His children. If it matters to Him that we buy this house and not that, this car, rather than another, He will surely providentially intervene.
As I think through the bad choices men have made which are recorded in the Scriptures I find that they are more the result of ungodly character than they are of insufficient or unclear guidance. Samson, for example, was a man with a character problem when it came to women. He persisted in pursuing foreign, ungodly women, even when the law taught otherwise and his parents reminded him of this (Judg. 14:3).
David's sin with Bathsheba was also a problem in his character. In 2 Samuel 11:1 we are told,
Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
In the second verse of this same passage we learn that David had not only stayed home when he should have been at war, but he slept in until late in the afternoon. Now I want to say that David's character had drastically deteriorated since those days when his life was sought by Saul. David had found prosperity a greater temptation than persecution. He was so great a leader, he must have reasoned, that he could wage war from his bed. While Bathsheba should not have been in David's bed, neither should David have been there. This, in fact, was a stinging rebuke from the lips of David's loyal servant and Bathsheba's husband Uriah (2 Sam. 11:11). David's sin with Bathsheba did not just happen; it was the result of a serious character flaw in David's life. Incidentally, perhaps Bathsheba's sin was of the same type as David's. Should she really have been bathing where she could be seen by others?
I submit to you that most of the bad choices in our life are like David's--the result of our character. Think about it for a moment. What are the temptations that most plague your life? Are they not temptations which have to do with the weakest aspects of your moral character? If you have a problem controlling your temper, a character flaw described often in Proverbs (19:19; 22:24; 29:22), you will persistently struggle with blowing up. The more you pamper this flaw, the greater the temptation and the more certain a fall. The one who allows his (or her) mind to dwell on immoral thoughts is going to face moral temptation. Given enough time and the right opportunity (like David), the one who entertains immoral thoughts will eventually fall into moral sin.
While God's will encompasses us specifically, including even minute details of our life, His will is most often and most forcefully revealed in terms of our path: "He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Ps. 23:3).
God's will is that we be morally pure:
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is that you abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3).
The test of true spirituality and maturity is based upon our character. The elder and the deacon must be men of godly character (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1). The fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of godly character (Gal. 5:22-23). Those things for which all Christians are to strive are aspects of godly character (2 Pet. 1:5-11). Maturity as a saint is a matter of character:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for some one to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For every one who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil (Heb. 5:12-14).
It is the immature, those who lack godly character, who waver and vacillate in making wise decisions:
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming (Eph. 4:14).
But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8).
Above all else, let us seek to develop and maintain godly character. This, more than anything else, will incline us to follow the guidance which God gives to His children.
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose (Ps. 25:8-12).
62 Both the verb and the noun are connected with the Hebrew preposition meaning 'between,' and signify the ability to draw proper distinctions. Here is meant the distinction between right and wrong." A. Cohen, Proverbs (London: The Soncino Press, 1967), P. 1.
63 McKane calls "discretion" "resourcefulness" and goes on to say of the educational process which sought to develop it, "Its concern was to impart negotiating skills, to nurture soundness of judgement and to produce a weighty and effective individual." William McKane, Proverbs (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, n.d.), P. 265.
64 "It is then a term for a kind of nautical expertise, the ability to steer a course through the trackless sea; and it lends itself readily to becoming a metaphor for the negotiating skills which discern the beginning and the end of a problem and perform each operation in the right place at the right time." Ibid, p. 266.
Related Topics: Theology Proper (God), Basics for Christians


text:
The girls at Styled Creative know how to party! It's too late to use this as inspiration for your Christmas party, but it's just in time for New Year's Eve. I have an addiction to sparkles and the NYE gives me the perfect excuse to bedazzle myself. I'll be ringing in the new year with sweet polka dot treats and glittery party favors. Now all I need this that amazing shiny bike!
PS. The darling model is the talented Dallas Shaw!
{images via Style Me Pretty of Kate Spade inspired holiday styled by Styled Creative and photographed by Alison Conklin}


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Chalet Bergfink
Beschrijving van het vakantieappartement
Detached chalet at the alm in the car-free village of Rosswald. outstanding view The mountain village of Rosswald is at an altitude of 1800 metres. The village is above the town of Brig. It can be reached by car or gondola lift in summer. You can park below the village free of charge and ascend in the gondola lift. If you drive to the village youll be charged a parking fee of around CHF 35.00 per week. Once in Rosswald you'll be surrounded by an impressive mountain world. Youll enjoy sheer tranquillity, beautiful scenery and magnificent views of the famous Simplon Pass. The village is small and has some shops and restaurants. You can set out on delightful walks from here.
Object boeken
Selecteer de gewenste periode
De boeking gebeurt via de website van de aanbieder.
Uw aanvraag wordt doorgestuurd.
Glimmuschir 134
3913 Rosswald
Telefoon +41 78 673 96 56


text:
She doesn't sing that way because she's had it easy." This is how Tess (Cher), the long-suffering owner of the nightclub at the center of Burlesque, defends her new star, Ali (Christina Aguilera), to the club's jealous, deposed marquee attraction, Nikki (Kristen Bell). The same phrase could substitute as a marketing mission statement for Aguilera herself, who, throughout her decadelong adult career, has deftly incorporated triumph-over-trauma into her brand.
Aguilera's narrative, presented to the world via lyrics, music videos and interviews, begins with an abusive father and single mother, moves on to battles with depression and bad body image, and has recently been updated to include now-mother Aguilera's very public divorce. Through it all, she seems to repeat a pattern: Admit crippling vulnerability, as in the hit ballad "Beautiful," and then boldly, bitchily and nakedly (often almost literally) embrace the pain, as in the single "Fighter," in which she thanks an unnamed tormentor, because "If it wasn't for all of your torture, I wouldn't know how to be this way now and never back down."
Programmatic by design, Burlesque flattens Aguilera's inherent thorny appeal — the persona that's at once obnoxiously "provocative" and sympathetic — by laughably casting her as the 21st-century, torch-singing equivalent of Ruby Keeler in a hodgepodge of Busby Berkeley plots, with none of the Depression-era style or social critique. Aguilera's innocent Ali is a small-town orphan who shows the audience her audacious singing talent over the opening credits and then Greyhounds it from her tiny Iowa hamlet to Hollywood. There, she pounds the pavement looking for work and ends up at Burlesque, where she instantly becomes entranced by the stage show: highly gymnastic, quasi-comic lip-synch routines set to standards, performed by a cast of homogenous young things in sailor-motif underwear-as-outerwear. Ali might be impressed, but business is hardly booming, and it's easy to see why: Burlesque lacks both the reliable base appeal of a real strip club (while the costumes are skimpy, they rarely come off) and, with Tess the only member of the company who dares to sing live, a personal touch. Ali (and the viewer) knows she can out-sing the recorded vocal tracks, but she keeps her talent to herself while working her way up from waitress to dancer.
Running an unconscionably extended 116 minutes, Burlesque is nearly half over before Aguilera is allowed to be Christina Aguilera. When she finally shows Tess and crew what she can do — singing Etta James' "Tough Lover" without accompaniment — it's the moment the movie's been desperately waiting for. Time stops, audiences both on- and offscreen simultaneously get tears in their eyes and shivers down their spines and gigantic boners, and the film's many flaws temporarily fall away.
But only temporarily. Burlesque, directed by Pussycat Dolls creator Steve Antin from a script credited to him and reportedly worked on by Diablo Cody and Susannah Grant, is so hampered by its influences that it wastes its primary asset: its superstar. Instead of leading with what Aguilera does best — belting, vamping, spotlight hogging — the movie shoehorns her into a rehashed backstage musical conceit: Good girl is tempted by bad guy, ultimately resists, becomes a star, finds love and saves the show. (The fact that naive Ali's flirtation with the dark side is signified by her newfound proclivity for limited-edition stilettos and Herve Leger dresses is both hilarious and incisive.)
Burlesque, like Chicago before it, offers dispiriting evidence that the Hollywood musical is stalled at weak imitation Bob Fosse. Cabaret is clearly Antin's guiding reference, with the similarities going way beyond the superficial (the hats, the garters, the chair dancing). Antin confines each musical number to the stage, weaving in offstage narrative — there's even a post-consummation love ballad illustrated with scenes from the bedroom, à la Cabaret's "Maybe This Time." What worked as a dialectical tactic in that film, creating ironic tension between the worlds onstage and off-, here feels like a tacit admission from Antin that he doesn't have enough faith in the audience's ability to watch an unbroken performance, to read story and character development into the song and dance itself.
To be fair, it's not like he's working with Kander and Ebb. Burlesque's songs were written by a wide variety of producers and performers (Aguilera cowrote just three), and not only is there no consistent creative throughline, but they serve no storytelling function — in fact, most songs were mixed like standard club tracks, rendering specific lyrics incidental. The film's catchiest tune is "The Beautiful People," bizarrely based on a Marilyn Manson sample. But Antin treats it like a throwaway, using the song to back a scene that takes place outside of the club, so even though Aguilera sings it, Ali doesn't.
Fred Astaire used to insist that his onscreen dances be shot wide and virtually uncut, so that there'd be no doubt the performers were doing it for real and not faking it for the camera. Antin takes the opposite approach, fragmenting each number into quick glimpses of gestures, so that we get no sense of how the dancers are moving through space. What you remember when it's over is the impact of Aguilera's voice, but not what she's singing; montages of body parts, but not the choreography; and Aguilera's face, music-video-trained to hold a close-up so emotionally exaggerated, you might even call it a burlesque.